• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.45 no.2
• /
• pp.369-379
• /
• 1998

Background: Platelet-activating factor(PAF) might play an important role in the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome. Since PAF induced lung injury is similar to changes of acute respiratory distress gyndrome, and abnormalities in surfactant function have been described in acute respiratory distress syndrome, the authors investigated the effects of PAF on the regulation of surfactant protein A, B and C mRNA accumulation Method: The effects of PAF on gene expression of surfactant protein A, B and C in 24 hours after intratracheal injection of PAF in rats. Surfactant protein A, B and C mRNAs were measured by filter hybridization. Results: The accumulation of SP-A mRNA in PAF treated group was significantly decreased by 37.1 % and 41.6%, respectively compared to the control group and the group treated with Lyso-PAF(p<0.025, p<0.01). The accumulation of SP-B mRNA in PAF treated group was decreased by 18.7% and 32.2 %, respectively compared to the control group and the group treated with Lyso-PAF but statistically not significant. The accumulation of SP-C mRNA in PAF treated group was significantly decreased by 30.7% and 38.5%, respectively compared to the control group and the group treated with Lyso-PAF(p<0.l, p<0.01). Conclusion: These findings represent a marked inhibitory effects of platelet-activating factor on surfactant proteins expression in vivo. This supports, in turn, 'platelet-activating factor might be related to pathogenesis of acute respiratory distress syndrome.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.42 no.2
• /
• pp.162-169
• /
• 2014

In the course of study for the development of functional food using red beans (azuki beans, Phaseolus radiatus L.), the ethanol extracts from raw-red bean (RRB) and boiled-red bean (BRB) were prepared, and the components and various biological activities of both were compared. It was observed that the extraction yield, and the total polyphenol content, of the BRB were 1.2 times higher than that of the RRB. However, the contents of total flavonoid, total sugar and reducing sugar in the BRB were 30, 27.9 and 30.8% respectively when compared with those of RRB. In relation to antioxidative activity, both RRB and BRB exhibited moderate DPPH anion, ABTS cation, and nitrite scavenging activities and reducing power, though in all cases RRB demonstrated stronger activities than BRB. The extracts of RRB and BRB did not reveal any antimicrobial activities. In a ${\alpha}$-amylase inhibitory activity assay, RRB was higher than BRB, while BRB showed higher ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitory activity than RRB. A strong and particular activity was observed in an anti-thrombosis activity assay of RRB. The extract of RRB demonstrated strong inhibitions against prothrombin and blood coagulation factors, with moderate thrombin inhibition. However, the extract of BRB did not exhibit any significant anti-thrombosis activity. Our results indicate that RRB has different, but useful biological activities, and loss or elimination of the biologically active substances in RRB occurs during the production of BRB. Therefore, to develop more functional foods from red beans, a study of suitable boiling, heating and drying processes is essential, and the efficient re-use of boiled waste water from the boiling process is necessary. These results could be applied to the further development of functional red bean beverages and sweat red bean pastes.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.41 no.4
• /
• pp.405-425
• /
• 2008

In order to investigate the amounts of trace elements flowing into reservoir, and to elucidate the relationship between trace element mobility and fraction size, the stream water and sediment samples were collected from thirty-two sites of the 3rd or 4th order stream within watershed surrounding the Juam reservoir. Chemical analyses of trace elements (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) for all samples were completed, and additionally cationi and anion for stream water samples. Considering the distribution of rocks and contamination sources in watershed, the eight stream sediments were selected from typical sites representing study areas, and we determined the concentrations of trace elements according to size fractions ($2\;mm{\sim}200\;{\mu}m$, $200{\sim}100\;{\mu}m$, $100{\sim}50\;{\mu}m$, $50{\sim}20\;{\mu}m$ and < $20\;{\mu}m$). The correlation relationships between concentrations and size fractions of stream sediments were important to identify the hydro-geochemical behavior of trace elements that flow into Juam reservoir. Stream waters showed four water types (Ca-Mg-$HCO_3$, Ca-Na-$HCO_3$-Cl, Ca-Na-$HCO_3-SO_4$, Ca-Na-$HCO_3$) depending on pollution sources such as coal mine, metal mine, farm-land and dwellings. Concentrations of trace elements increased clearly with the decrease in size fractions of stream sediments. Concentrations of Cu, Pb and Zn increased dramatically in silt size (< $20\;{\mu}m$) fraction, while As had high concentrations in sand size ($2\;mm{\sim}100\;{\mu}m$) fraction in downstream sediments of metal mines. These indicate that Cu, Zn, and Pb moved into Juam reservoir easily in the adsorbed form on silt size grain in sediments, and As was transported as As-bearing mineral facies, resulting in its less chance to reach into Juam reservoir.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
• /
• v.6 no.4
• /
• pp.250-255
• /
• 2004

This study was carried out to investigate the chemical properties of rainwater in the Suwon and Taean areas. Rainwater was collected during the farming seasons of 2002 and 2003. The number of samples collected in Suwon and Taean were 69 and 71, respectively. These were analyzed for chemical composition. The pH of samples collected in April was higher than those collected after June. The most common range of rainwater pH was 5.0-5.6 in Suwon and 4.5-5.0 in Taean during investigation periods. The neutralization capacity of rainwater acidity by $Ca^{2+}$ and N $H_4$$^{+}$ was decreased during the rainy season. The EC of rainwater was lower during the rainy season. Cation concentrations in rainwater were N $H_4$$^{+}$ > $H^{+}$ > $Ca^{2+}$ > $Mg^{2+}$ > $K^{+}$ in Suwon and $Ca^{2+}$ > N $H_4$$^{+}$ > $H^{+}$ > $K^{+}$ > $Mg^{2+}$ in Taean. In the case of anion, the order was sol > N $O_3$$^{[-10]}$ > C $I^{[-10]}$ in Suwon and S $O_4$$^{2-}$ > C $I^{[-10]}$ > N $O_3$$^{[-10]}$ in Taean. The mean values of sulfate in rainwater were 130 $\mu$eq $L^{-1}$ in Suwon and 117 $\mu$eq $L^{-1}$ in Taean. The ratio of non-sea salt sulfate to sulfate (nss-S $O_4$$^{2-}$ > S $O_4$$^{2-}$) was 89% and 88%. This implies that the major origin of sulfate in rainwater might be anthropogenic.ht be anthropogenic..

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.29-34
• /
• 1997

This experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of nitrate concentration in culture solution on the growth and the uptake of inorganic elements in Tomato plant in the greenhouse. Tomato plants(cv. TVR-2) were grown with nitrate concentrations 8, 16, 24, 32cmol/l, based on Japan ENSI standard solution. Dry weights of lamina and petiole increased with the nitrate concentration. However, the dry weight of fruit was the highest in the treatment of nitrate concentration of 16cmol/l. The proportion of dry weights of vegitative organ to reproductive organ was the lowest in the treatments of nitrate concentrations of 16cmol/l and it increased with the nitrate concentration. The fruit yield was the highest at the treatment of nitrate concentration of 16cmol/l. With the increase of nitrate level the concentrations of N, $NO_3-N$, Ca and Na increased in lamina and petioles. The concentrations of K, P, S and Cl tended to decline in the nitrate concentration of 16 and 32cmol/l. These results indicate that optimum nitrate concentrations in a tomato grown by hydroponics change with growth stage, and the optimum concentrations for vegitative and reproductive stage were 8 and 16cmol/l, respectively. It also was proved that the nitrate concentrations in the culture solution affected antagonistically the uptake of inorganic anion in tomato : In low nitrate level $Cl^-$ uptake was affected much, while $SO_4{^{2-}}$ and $H_2PO_4{^-}$ uptake were affected in high nitrate level.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
• /
• 2007.11a
• /
• pp.79-92
• /
• 2007

Oxidative stress have known to be a risk factor for the degenerative processes and closely related to a lot of diseases. It is well established that antioxidants are good in protection and therapeutic means against oxidative damage. There is increasing interest in natural antioxidants and many natural antioxidants have been found and utilized as the possible protection for various diseases and skin aging. We have screened natural antioxidant agents for cosmeceuticals, nutraceuticals, and drugs as therapeutic and preventive means against oxidative stress, and have developed a number of novel antioxidants from various natural sources. A novel melanin synthesis inhibitor, Melanocin A, isolated from the metabolite of a fungal strain Eupenicillium shearii F80695 inhibited mushroom tyrosinase and melanin biosynthesis of B16 melanoma cells with $IC_{50}$ value of 9.0 nM and MIC value of $0.9\;{\mu}M$, respectively. Melanocin A also exhibited potent antioxidant activity by scavenging of DPPH and superoxide anion radicals. UV was found to increase the level of hydrogen peroxides and other reactive oxygen species (ROS) in skin tissues. This increase in ROS may not only alter the structure and function of many genes and proteins directly but may also modulate their expressions through signal transduction pathways and, ultimately, lead to skin damage. We investigated the effect of Melanocin A on UV-induced premature skin aging. Firstly, the effect of Melanocin A on UV-induced matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 expression in an immortalized human keratinocyte cell line, HaCaT in vitro was investigated. Acute UV irradiation induced MMP-9 expression at both the mRNA and protein levels and Melanocin A suppressed this expression in a dose-dependent manner. We then investigated UV-induced skin changes in hairless mice in vivo by Melanocin A. Chronic exposure of hairless mouse dorsal skin to UV increased skin thickness and induced wrinkle formation and the gelatinase activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9. Moreover, Melanocin A significantly suppressed UV-induced morphologic skin changes and MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression. These results show that Melanocin A can prevent the harmful effects of UV that lead to skin aging. Therefore, we suggest that Melanocin A should be viewed as a potential therapeutic agent for preventing and/or treating premature skin aging. Terrein is a bioactive fungal metabolite isolated from Penicillium species. Terrein has a relatively simple structure and can be easily synthesized. However, the biologic effects of terrein are comparatively unknown. We found for the first time that terrein potently inhibit melanin production in melanocytes and has a strong hypopigmentary effect in a spontaneously immortalized mouse melanocyte cell line, Mel-Ab. Treatment of Mel-Ab cells with terrein (10-100 mM) for 4 days significantly reduced melanin levels in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, terrein at the same concentration also reduced tyrosinase activity. We then investigated whether terrein influences the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) pathway and the expression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), which is required for tyrosinase expression. Terrein was found to induce sustained ERK activation and MITF down-regulation, and luciferase assays showed that terrein inhibits MITF promoter activity in a dose-dependent manner. To elucidate the correlation between ERK pathway activation and a decreased MITF transcriptional level, PD98059, a specific inhibitor of the ERK pathway, was applied before terrain treatment and found to abrogate the terrein-induced MITF attenuation. Terrein also reduced the tyrosinase protein level for at least 72 h. These results suggest that terrain reduces melanin synthesis by reducing tyrosinase production via ERK activation, and that this is followed by MITF down-regulation.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.131-137
• /
• 2012

Polyaniline (PANI) and polypyrrole (Ppy) hollow sphere structures with controlled shell thicknesses can be easily synthesized than those of using a layer-by-layer method for cathode active material of lithium-ion batteries. Polystyrene (PS) core was synthesized by emulsion polymerization using an anion surfactant. The shell thicknesses of PANI and Ppy were controlled by amounts of aniline and pyrrole monomers. PS was removed by an organic solution. This structure increased in contact with an electrolyte and a specific capacity in lithium-ion batteries. But polymers have disadvantages such as the difficult control of molecular weights and low densities. These disadvantages were completed by controlled shell thicknesses. The amount of aniline monomer increased from 1.2, 2.4, 3.6, 4.8 to 6.0 mL, and the shell thicknesses were 30.2, 38.0, 42.2, 48.2, and 52.4 nm, respectively. And the amount of pyrrole monomer was 0.6, 1.2, 2.4 and 3.6 mL, the shell thicknesses were 16.0, 22.0, 27.0 and 34.0 nm, respectively. In the cathode materials with controlled shell thicknesses, shell thicknesses of the PANI hollow spheres were 30.2, 42.2, and 52.4 nm, and discharge specific capacities of after 10 cycle were ~18, ~29, and ~62 mAh/g, respectively. The shell thicknesses of the Ppy hollow spheres were 16.0, 22.0, 27.0 and 34.0 nm, and discharge specific capacities of after 15 cycle were ~15, ~36, ~56, and ~77 mAh/g, respectively. Thus, shell thicknesses of PANI and Ppy increased, the specific capacities increased.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.237-246
• /
• 2003

This pot experiment was conducted in order to find out the effects of application of combined micronutrients(T$_1$: control. T$_2$; Fe, T$_3$; Fe+Mn, T$_4$； Fe＋Mn＋Cu, T$_{5}$; Fe+Mn+Cu＋Zn, T$_{6}$；Fe+Mn+Cu＋Zn+Mo, T$_{7}$； Fe+Mn+Cu+Zn+Mo+B) on forage performance of pure and mixed cultures of orchardgrass and white clover The 2nd part was concerned with the changes in the forage yields and concurrence index. The results obtained are summarized as follows: 1. The effects of combined micronutrient applications on the forage yields were different according to the forage species, whether it was a pure or mixed cultures, and additional fertilization(especially N). The effects of them on the forage productivity and botanical composition were more obvious in white clover, especially in mixed culture, than in orchardgrass. By the significant role of B as a regulator, the yields of both forages were best in the T$_{7}$, respectively. 2. In the pure culture, the high yields of both forages were obtained by the T$_{7}$ and T$_2$, whereas the T$_{6}$ and T$_3$resulted in the low yields. The best yields of both forages were obtained by the T$_{7}$ with relatively optimum ratios among the micronutrients as follows; Fe/Mn/Cu/Zn, Fe/Mo, Mo/B, and ∑ cation/∑anion. It was observed the multiple interaction of Fe${\times}$Mn${\times}$Mo${\times}$B, and the significant role of B as a regulator. The effects of them on white clover were more distinct at no additional fertilization than at the additional fertilization(especially N). 3. In mixed culture, the optimum applications of them resulted in the positive increase of yield and botanical composition of white clover, whereas orchardgrass tended to be inversely except the T$_{7}$.X> 7/. 7/.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.29-35
• /
• 2011

Individual ion concentrations and ionic contributions to EC reading in the circulated nutrient solution are the important factors to be considered for stable EC-based closed-loop soilless culture. This study was conducted to determine appropriate ion-analysis intervals of the circulated nutrient solutions based on ion concentration, ion balance, and ion electrical conductivity under different renewal intervals in EC-based nutrient control systems for sweet peppers (Capsicum annum L. 'Fiesta') in early growth stage. Average node numbers of the plants were 13 and 18 when the experiment started and finished, respectively, and three plants were grown in each rockwool slab. Four different renewal intervals of circulated nutrient solutions such as 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks were used as treatment. Nutrient solutions were supplied to the plants based on integrated radiation. Drainage was collected into drain tanks after irrigation ended in the day and then mixed with fresh water until the EC reaches 2.69 $dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$. The replenished nutrient solution was supplied to the plants in the next day. Ion concentrations of the individual ions periodically analyzed in the circulated nutrient solutions showed no significant differences among the treatments during the experimental period. Ion concentrations of $K^+$, $Ca^{2+}$, $Mg^{2+}$, $Na^+$, $NO_3{^-}$, ${SO_4}^{2-}$, ${PO_4}^{3-}$, and $Cl^-$ varied within 5-8, 11-14, 2.0-2.7, 0.5-0.6, 14-19, 4-5, 1-4, and 0.3-0.5 $meq{\cdot}L^{-1}$, respectively. Ion balance showed a consistent tendency over all the treatments and especially $K^+$ : $Ca^{2+}$ and ${SO_4}^{2-}$ : ${PO_4}^{3-}$ played great roles in the cation and anion balances in the nutrient solutions, respectively. Activity coefficients of ions such as $K^+$, $NO_3{^-}$, and $H_2PO_4{^-}$ varied within 0.8-0.9 and those of $Ca^{2+}$, $Mg^{2+}$, ${SO_4}^{2-}$ varied within 0.5-0.6, showing little changes with time. Ionic contributions of $K^+$ and $NO_3{^-}$ to EC reading were the greatest followed by $Ca^{2+}$, ${SO_4}^{2-}$, and $Mg^{2+}$ in the order. From the results, we thought that allowable ranges in ion concentration, ion balance, and subsequent individual ionic contributions to EC reading would be obtained within 4-week renewal interval of nutrient solution in EC-based closed-loop soilless culture for sweet pepper plants.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.36 no.1
• /
• pp.14-19
• /
• 2007

This study was conducted to analyze the antioxidant activity and xanthine oxidase inhibitory effect of hot-water extracts from Elaeagnus multiflora Thunb. to provide fundamental data for the development of functional materials. The antioxidative activities of hot-water extracts from E. multiflora Thunb. were analyzed by electron donating ability (EDA) using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) -like activity by pyrogallol and nitrite scavenging ability. EDA of extracts from unripe, ripe, and overripe fruits were 77.7%, 36.0%, and 23.7% at 100 ${\mu}g/mL$, respectively, and EDA of extract in unripe fruits was higher than those of others. At 1,000 $\mu$g/mL, the SOD-like activities were 32.8%, 11.2% and 5.0% for unripe, ripe, and overripe fruits, respectively. The SOD-like activity was increased along with the increase of unripe and ripe extract concentrations. The nitrite scavenging ability of unripe fruit extracts in 100, 300, 500 ${\mu}g/mL$ of extraction solution in pH 1.2 and 3.0 was higher than those of others. The nitrate scavenging ability of all extracts was decreased according to the increase of pH. Xanthine oxidase inhibitory activities of unripe, ripe and overripe fruits were 30.0%, 28.2%, and 18.2% at 1,000 ${\mu}g/mL$, respectively.